An extensive examination of implausible concepts of “reality,” as posited by contemporary Latin American authors. Students will offer textual analyses of works dealing with the supernatural, surreal, super-real, Gothic, and the Fantastic, with special emphasis on the Magic-Real. De lo mágico a lo fantástico
Readings–both short narrative and novels–include texts by Arreola, Asturias, Bioy Casares, Borges, Carpentier, Cortázar, Fuentes, García Márquez, Gorodischer, Llana, Peri Rossi, and Valenzuela among others.
Students are required to write extensively, read critically, lead discussion in Spanish, and report on related authors beyond the Latin American canon.
[Readings] [Class Calendar of Assignments] [Grading Policy]
Readings (by author):
Title: Author: (alphabetical) Country: "El hombre que robó a Borges" Rubén Loza Aguerreberre Uruguay "El guardagujas" Juan José Arreola Mexico "La tatuana" Miguel Angel Asturias Guatemala "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" Ambroce Bierce USA La invención de Morel Adolfo Bioy Casares Argentina "Las ruinas circulares" Jorge Luis Borges Argentina "El milagro secreto" Jorge Luis Borges Argentina "Viaje a la semilla" Alejo Carpentier Cuba "A Pedestrian Accident" Robert Coover USA "Una carta a una señorita en Paris" Julio Cortázar Argentina "La isla a mediodía" Julio Cortázar Argentina "Las Ménades" Julio Cortázar Argentina "Axolotl" Julio Cortázar Argentina "Noche boca arriba" Julio Cortázar Argentina Aura Carlos Fuentes Mexico Los días enmascarados Carlos Fuentes Mexico 100 años de soledad Gabriel García Márquez Colombia "La perfecta casada" Angela Gorodisher Argentina The Metamorphosis Franz Kafka Austria Rhinoceros Eugene Ionesco France "Nosotras" María Elena Llana Cuba "El Prócer" Cristina Peri Rossi Uruguay "De noche soy tu caballo" Luisa Valenzuela Argentina El hombre mirando sudeste (film) Argentina
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